Urethane Casting

What is Urethane Casting?

Urethane casting is a manufacturing process that uses silicone molds to produce high-quality, low-volume plastic parts. This process is ideal for creating parts with complex geometries, smooth finishes, and flexible or rigid material properties.

The process begins with a master pattern, typically created via 3D printing or CNC machining, which is used to form a silicone mold. The mold is then used to cast urethane resins, creating parts with exceptional detail and quality.

Applications of Urethane Casting

Urethane casting is widely used across industries for a range of applications, including:

• Automotive: Perfect for short-run manufacturing and bridge production.
• Medical Devices: Lower tooling costs compared to injection molding.
• Consumer Products: Achieves smooth, detailed parts with a variety of textures and finishes.
• Industrial Equipment: Offers flexible, rigid, or elastomeric properties.
• Electronics: Short lead times for prototypes and production.

Our Urethane Casting Capabilities

1. Master Pattern Creation
   • We use high-precision 3D printing or CNC machining to create detailed master patterns, ensuring accurate silicone molds.
2. Silicone Mold Fabrication
   • Our expert technicians produce high-quality silicone molds that capture every detail of your master pattern.
3. Material Options
   • Choose from a wide variety of urethane resins to meet your specific needs, including:
     • Flexible materials for soft-touch parts.
     • Rigid materials for durable components.
     • Transparent or color-matched materials.
4. Surface Finishing
   • Achieve custom textures, polished finishes, or matte surfaces to meet your design and aesthetic goals.

Urethane Casting Design Considerations

To optimize the urethane casting process, consider the following design guidelines:

1. Wall Thickness
   • Maintain consistent wall thickness to reduce warping and ensure uniform curing.
2. Draft Angles
   • Apply draft angles for smooth removal from silicone molds.
3. Undercuts
   • Avoid deep undercuts, or design parts with removable sections in the mold.
4. Material Selection
   • Choose materials that match your functional and aesthetic requirements, including flexibility, durability, and transparency.

Why Choose NetProto for Urethane Casting?

Custom Solutions: Tailored to your specifications, ensuring the perfect fit for your project.

Fast Turnarounds: Get prototypes and short-run production parts in days, not weeks.

Material Expertise: Access to a wide range of urethane materials for unique applications.

High-Quality Finishes: Achieve exceptional surface detail and aesthetics with our advanced techniques.

Cost-Effective Prototyping: Avoid expensive tooling with affordable silicone molds.

How Urethane Casting Works

1. Master Pattern Creation

   – A high-precision master pattern is created via 3D printing or CNC machining.

2. Silicone Mold Fabrication

   – A silicone mold is formed around the master pattern, capturing every detail.

3. Urethane Casting

   – Urethane resin is poured into the mold, cured, and removed to create the finished part.

4. Post-Processing

   – Parts are deburred, polished, or textured to meet your specifications.

5. Quality Inspection

   – Each part undergoes rigorous inspection to ensure consistency and performance.